[RE-wrenches] Bonding Rails

Tue Nov 17 13:47:56 PST 2009

That still works to approximately one clip per rail (actually N-1 clips for
N modules). - Peter

 Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com  
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Click
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:09 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Bonding Rails

Yes, that's correct. In my answer I was just rephrasing it to say you'd 
need twice as many WEEBs as you think. As I understand it, the intent of 
this layout is to give the installer two chances to bond each module 
properly to the rail.

Unirac has a similar requirement for its UGC-1s on SolarMount, but in 
their schematic they don't require you to bond to both rails. So if you 
have four modules, you need UGC-1s between A&B, B&C, C&D but you can 
have them all on a single rail. I think it's better to alternate between 
rails anyway: A&B (top rail), B&C (bottom rail), etc.

DKC

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Bonding Rails
From: Peter Parrish <peter.parrish at calsolareng.com>
To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: 2009/11/17 15:55

> On page 8 it would appear that we need TWO WEEB clips bonding modules A
and
> B to rails #1 and #2 and another TWO WEEB clips bonding modules C and D to
> rails #1 and #2, etc. - Peter
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Click
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:14 PM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Bonding Rails
> 
> Peter,
> 
> (1) it appears that per the WEEB installation manual:
> http://www.we-llc.com/Datasheets/104-0404-000008-008.pdf
> (page 8) you need to have one WEEB per module rather than one for every 
> other module as you suggest.
> 
> (2) 690.43 Equipment Grounding.
> Exposed non-current-carrying metal parts of module frames, equipment, 
> and conductor enclosures shall be grounded in accordance with 250.134 or 
> 250.136(A) regardless of voltage.
> 
> I guess the latter answer depends on whether your AHJ considers the 
> rails "exposed"-- I would, so in this situation I'd have lugs on each 
> module and each rail.
> 
> DKC
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Bonding Rails
> From: Peter Parrish <peter.parrish at calsolareng.com>
> To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: 2009/11/17 14:56
> 
>> We have been using WEEB clips on all of our installations for over a 
>> year now. We include the WEEB data/installation sheets in our permit 
>> package and patiently point out the clips to inspectors who haven't seen 
>> the WEEB system yet.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Two questions:
>>
>>  
>>
>> (1)     For ProSolar rails, can we use one WEEB clip to bond two 
>> adjacent modules (say, modules A and B) on the upper rail (say, rail #1) 
>> and then use a second WEEB clip to bond the next two adjacent modules 
>> (say, modules C and D) on the lower rail (say, rail #2) and then use a 
>> listed lay-in lug (with in our case a WEEB clip) to bond to either rail 
>> #1 or #2 to continue the grounding?
>>
>> (2)     If we DON"T use WEEB clips and use the conventional bonding 
>> methodology per module manufacturer's instructions (proper location on 
>> the module, and listed screws, washers and nuts), do we have to ALSO 
>> bond the rails? We have an inspector in Pasadena, CA that is requiring 
>> this, but this is the first time we have been required to do so. Perhaps 
>> in the past year in ignorant bliss we have missed an important 
>> development? Or have we been dodging bullets for seven years and not 
>> even knowing it?
>>
>>  
>>
>> - Peter
>>
>> Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
>> California Solar Engineering, Inc.
>> 820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
>> CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
>> peter.parrish at calsolareng.com <mailto:peter.parrish at calsolareng.com> 
>> Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885     
>>
> 
>>  
>>
>>  
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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